FIOS and TVGOS

[MaddogMoney]

I apologize in advance if this is in the wrong category, but I couldn't decide exactly where it fit in.

I am interested in getting FIOS TV service, but I want to be sure that it will work with the TVGOS on my Toshiba RD-XS54. Has anyone had any experience with this?

I'm getting FIOS Internet, so the switch should be easy. And I'm tired of giving my money to Comcast.

Thanks.

[MaddogMoney]

SURELY someone here has tried this.

[kenglish]

If you mean TV Guide On-Screen, I think it uses an analog NTSC channel to carry the data. I know it does not work with the ATSC Digital EPG (PSIP) info. I guess the answer would be dependent on how the FIOS Cable sets up their encoding system.....whether it passes the data.

Also, I'm not sure how the channelization schemes work. The set we have here shows the channelization that would be on a Comcast system or OTA, and can't be changed to match our MATV system channels.

[Rammitinski]

To my knowledge, TVGOS is only sent over NTSC OTA and cable channels. Right now, as cable switches over to digital, they are keeping an analog channel to send the stream, (but sometimes you have to ask them to add it). When the OTA NTSC channels are eventually cut off, hopefully there will be a way that our ATSC digital tuners will be able to receive it over a digital channel.

[MaddogMoney]

Thanks for the info.

I talked with Toshiba support today. The guy I talked to was surprisingly friendly and knowledgable.

He said pretty much what y'all are saying...it's only available on analog systems. You can get it with digital cable because digital cable typically includes the analog signal.

[Jodeus]

I'm looking to get FIOS and wasn't sure whether I want to go with the HD box or a cablecard. I currently use a cablecard from my cable company and TVGOS for the guide.

If I go with the cablecard, can I hook up an OTA antenna to ANT2 of my TV and have it pull in the TVGOS that way? I really like some of the features of my TV, including a browsing feature that has the TV remember up to 10 of the past channels I've visited. This works great when watching NCAA football.

Thanks in advance.

-Jody

[kenglish]

I think you just need ten different TV sets......be sure to invite us all over to watch .

[biker19]

Originally Posted by Jodeus

If I go with the cablecard, can I hook up an OTA antenna to ANT2 of my TV and have it pull in the TVGOS that way

-Jody

Yep, just need to ensure that you can get one of the few OTA stations that broadcast this stuff - usually a PBS station.

[Jodeus]

I think you just need ten different TV sets......be sure to invite us all over to watch .

Ken no problem but it's a long trip from Utah to FL!

I think I'm going to bag the cablecard/TVGOS. I like it, especially the fact that I can reorder the channels, but I think I'm just going to go with the HD-DVR instead.

They just dug the trench to run the fiber to my house, no turning back now!

-Jody

[i2k]

Has anyone got this working?

[jpurkey]

The analog channels on FiOS appear to be digital up to some point, see below. Where they get decoded to analog and put on the line I don't know for sure. So unless the TV Guide info is preserved in the encoding then it probably wouldn't work.

Usually encoding/decoding of a digital channel adds a delay. On DirecTV the local channels were about 3.2 seconds behind OTA reception of the same channel, but part of that delay was the uplink/downlink to the satellite. On FiOS both the digital and analog versions of any local channel are in perfect sync with each other. If there is any difference I can't detect it quickly flipping back and forth. Both analog and digital versions are about 2.7 seconds behind OTA.

Those delay times are what I got using a stopwatch.

[i2k]

I think the TV GUIDE channel and the weather channel are analog, because I pick those up on another tv in the house w/o a box

[pixelswim]

Originally Posted by i2k

I think the TV GUIDE channel and the weather channel are analog, because I pick those up on another tv in the house w/o a box

Have you guys chked the wikipedia entry for TVGOS? (Probably kenglish and Ramm are giving us info beyond the wiki stuff...)

[JamesMH]

Originally Posted by pixelswim

Have you guys chked the wikipedia entry for TVGOS? (Probably kenglish and Ramm are giving us info beyond the wiki stuff...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVGOS

Looks like all our TVs will not be able to download the TVguide onscreen data soon then? Has anyone got a firmware update for their TVs/DVDrecorder to enable the digital TVGOS?

[GeekGirl]

Don't forget the AVS forum official TVGOS thread http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&page=58&pp=30 There's lots of regional specific info, so you may find what you are looking for.

[Rammitinski]

I have heard that anyone who has a unit starting with the 9th generation version of TVGOS will still be able to use the guide for recording once analog is cut off. I don't know if there's some kind of software update they can send to make it happen, but I thought I did hear that somewhere once.

Plus, the cutoff only really applies to OTA. Cable can still carry analog transmissions if they so choose.

[stevewinks]

Originally Posted by Rammitinski

Anyone who has a unit starting with the 9th generation version of TVGOS will still be able to use the guide for recording once analog is cut off.

Plus, the cutoff only really applies to OTA. Cable can still carry analog transmissions if they so choose.

What exactly does "9th generation" TVGOS mean and how would I know if I have it or not?

Just like the original poster, I've had a Toshiba DVD Recorder (mine's a RD-XS34) for a little over a year ago and I've really gotten dependent on the TVGOS functionality, both to set up automated recordings and as a general use interactive guide.

I was very interested in FIOS and when they recently came to my area with an "open house", I attended and asked them about their support of TVGOS. Needless to say, none knew what the hell I was talking about. A few thought they did, but were actually referring to the guide in their DVR (Tivo?)

While I never did get an answer, I did end up buckling and signed up for whole FOIS package. The installers are scheduled to come at the beginning of the month.

I'm suspecting the TVGOS in my DVD recorder will cease to function under FIOS but I'm still hoping to be pleasantly surprised!

If anyone has any info updates on this topic I would love to hear it!!

[i2k]

FiOS still does not provide TVGOS data.
You will be not be pleasantly suprised, I gave up on the Toshiba Symbio ever recieving the programming information and bought a S3 TIVO with 2 Fios Cable cards.
MUCH BETTER.
Thanks

[vfrjim]

Originally Posted by i2k

FiOS still does not provide TVGOS data.
You will be not be pleasantly suprised, I gave up on the Toshiba Symbio ever recieving the programming information and bought a S3 TIVO with 2 Fios Cable cards.
MUCH BETTER.
Thanks

It is probably better, but I would not want to pay that bill for the Tivo in ADDITION to the cable bill. One bill is enough.

[stevewinks]

Originally Posted by i2k

FiOS still does not provide TVGOS data.
You will be not be pleasantly suprised, I gave up on the Toshiba Symbio ever recieving the programming information and bought a S3 TIVO with 2 Fios Cable cards.
MUCH BETTER.
Thanks

That's unfortunate but it is what I expected. Thanks for the info/updates.

I'm wondering, does anyone know if it is technically not feasible for TVGOS to work with FIOS or simply that Verizon purposely (or inadvertently) strips the signals needed out from the PBS channels that feed them???

[mapper]

Originally Posted by stevewinks

Verizon purposely (or inadvertently) strips the signals needed out from the PBS channels that feed them???

It is possible, but very unlikely that Verizon would strip the TVGOS info from the channel. Under some federal law they are not allowed to do that.

I don't know where you live and I have Cox here, but, if you are sure PBS hosts the TVGOS information, then hook up an antenna to your TV and let TVGOS get the information from OTA. If the information comes through, then you know 1 and/or 2 things:
1) PBS hosts the channel
2)Verizon's PBS channel is digital or strips the TVGOS information from the channel.

In that case, call Verizon and let them know about this situation. Of course, if Verizon's channels are all digital, that will be a problem since TV Guide information only reads information through an analog information scheme called VBI(vertical blanking level).

[i2k]

Correction: first 49 on verizon are also broadcast in analog - I have a TV (older) plugged in in our spare bedroom and it doesnt have a built in digital tuner, it only gets the first 49. That said I still never got the information from VZ.

[stevewinks]

Originally Posted by mapper

It is possible, but very unlikely that Verizon would strip the TVGOS info from the channel. Under some federal law they are not allowed to do that.

I don't know where you live and I have Cox here, but, if you are sure PBS hosts the TVGOS information, then hook up an antenna to your TV and let TVGOS get the information from OTA. If the information comes through, then you know 1 and/or 2 things:
1) PBS hosts the channel
2)Verizon's PBS channel is digital or strips the TVGOS information from the channel.

In that case, call Verizon and let them know about this situation. Of course, if Verizon's channels are all digital, that will be a problem since TV Guide information only reads information through an analog information scheme called VBI(vertical blanking level).

I have Comcast cable right now and the TVGOS works. I'm assuming that a local PBS station is hosting it, though I'm not certain which one it is. I'm also assuming that FIOS does carry this same station but (from what's been posted here) TVGOS will NOT work with FIOS.

I was scheduled to switch from Comcast to FIOS, but the fact that I would lose TVGOS and now have to have a STB box on every TV (which would also effectively kill the "dual tuner" ability of the DVD recorder) made me re-consider and cancel the FIOS install.

I'd still love to switch to FIOS and I've tried talking with them but it's awful difficult to find anyone who knows what the hell you're talking about - "TVGOS?.... We have an interactive guide!!". If they offered a package similar to Comcast's (i.e without the need for a STB converter and correspondingly with TVGOS support) then I'd change in a heartbeat.

If anyone knows/hears of any info along those lines please post!!!

[capecoralbill]

I jst purchased a1995 37 inch toshiba 37hl95 refurbished from National Consolidator. I paid 200 more for this set because it has tvgos, i sure hope they continue to support it. Has anybody been able to pull it in using OTA, does that mean you need to be near a PBS ota antenna? Thanks

[optivity]

Originally Posted by kenglish

If you mean TV Guide On-Screen, I think it uses an analog NTSC channel to carry the data. I know it does not work with the ATSC Digital EPG (PSIP) info. I guess the answer would be dependent on how the FIOS Cable sets up their encoding system.....whether it passes the data.

Also, I'm not sure how the channelization schemes work. The set we have here shows the channelization that would be on a Comcast system or OTA, and can't be changed to match our MATV system channels.

Would you have any information regarding how often Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. updates the channel lineups for its TV Guide On Screen System?

My TV Guide software version is: 09.01.46/00.00... w/build date/time 2/21/07 08:45:11

My local CATV provider has added a number of digital/HD channels after 2/21/07 that do not show up in the guide.

[vfrjim]

I recently tested every analog channel on Verizon and NONE of them had VBI packets for the TVGOS guide. Have not complained yet since I have an antenna to get it.

[HMarino3]

Did you test every channel using a STB or with a television tuner? Verizon's analog channels are only truly analog with just a straight coax going to a television tuner. If the signal is going through a Verizon STB the "analog" channels (2-49) are actually digital signals.

[vfrjim]

Originally Posted by HMarino3

Did you test every channel using a STB or with a television tuner? Verizon's analog channels are only truly analog with just a straight coax going to a television tuner. If the signal is going through a Verizon STB the "analog" channels (2-49) are actually digital signals.

I never tested with an analog tuner, just with a tuner that knows if VBI packets are being transmitted for TVGOS guide info.

[scoombs]

I don't know specifically which station provides the TVGOS info in my area, but it comes across the Comcast cable system with CableCard, and it seems reasonable that it is PBS because that is who carries the time signal as well. If I feed the TV a FIOS signal into a Verizon CableCard I not only stop receiving TVGOS, but I do not receive the PBS time signal any longer either. Both carriers provide the same PBS stations, so it seems clear Verizon is not passing the data.

[bfdtv]

Originally Posted by scoombs

I don't know specifically which station provides the TVGOS info in my area, but it comes across the Comcast cable system with CableCard, and it seems reasonable that it is PBS because that is who carries the time signal as well. If I feed the TV a FIOS signal into a Verizon CableCard I not only stop receiving TVGOS, but I do not receive the PBS time signal any longer either. Both carriers provide the same PBS stations, so it seems clear Verizon is not passing the data.

PBS only provides that information using the analog feed. There are no analog feeds with a CableCard on FiOS.

The minute you install and activate a CableCard on FiOS, all the analog channels are replaced with digital versions. There is no TVGOS information on the digital version of PBS.

Some have suggested above that Verizon is stripping away the TVGOS information. For them to strip away something, it would have to be there to begin with. Verizon gets digital (SD and HD) versions of its feeds via fiber. I'm not certain, but I believe Verizon may convert these digital channels to analog for those without CableCards.